This weekend, members of Shropshire Brass Ensemble will travel to Normandy to take part in a series of commemorative services, ceremonies, and concerts marking the anniversary of D-Day and honouring those who gave so much during the Second World War.
Over six days, the ensemble will perform and participate in events across some of the most significant locations connected to the Normandy landings, joining veterans, military representatives, local communities, and visitors from around the world in remembrance and reflection.
The itinerary begins on Friday 5 June with attendance at the St Contest Memorial Service, followed by participation in the Pegasus Bridge Museum Unveiling Ceremony — a location forever linked with the courage and determination shown in the opening hours of D-Day.
Saturday sees the ensemble taking part in ceremonies at Canada House Beach Memorial Service and the main D-Day commemorations at Juno Beach, paying tribute to the sacrifices made by Allied forces during the liberation of Europe.
On Sunday, members will attend the Abbey d’Ardenne Ceremony before performing an evening concert at Bernières-sur-Mer Church, bringing music into the heart of communities that continue to remember and honour their wartime history.
Monday’s schedule includes a reflective visit to the Canadian Cemetery, participation in the Authie Ceremony, and an outdoor performance on Authie Village Green.
The ensemble’s performances continue on Tuesday with concerts at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer and on the famous Arromanches promenade, where music will provide a fitting soundtrack against the backdrop of one of history’s most iconic locations.
The tour concludes on Wednesday with a concert at Sword Beach, Hermanville — an especially poignant location where music and remembrance come together on historic ground.
For Shropshire Brass Ensemble, this tour is more than a series of performances; it is an opportunity to remember, reflect, and represent Shropshire with pride on an international stage. Through music, the ensemble hopes to honour the memory of those who served while strengthening the enduring connections between communities united by history.
As preparations are finalised and instruments packed, the ensemble looks forward to what promises to be a memorable, emotional, and deeply meaningful week in Normandy.
Follow our Facebook page throughout the week for updates, photographs, videos, and behind-the-scenes moments as we share our journey across Normandy.
